The Bruins Could use This Addition to Their Defense

There are some needs that the Boston Bruins have as the trade deadline on April 12 is just a month away. Stop me if you have heard this before, but the Bruins could use a second-line right wing. They could use a top-four defenseman. Again, stop me if you’ve heard this before.

Over the last couple of years, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney has tried to plug the second line right wing issue with not luck. With Boston’s core players getting older by the season, the window for them is closing and closing fast. Sweeney and the front office need to upgrade the roster before the trade deadline if the Black and Gold are going to survive the tough East Division and make the playoffs.

The Bruins almost need to add to the back end if they are going to get to the postseason and have a run. Here is one name that Don Sweeney should be seriously considering.

Ekholm to the Bruins?

The Nashville Predators are falling fast out of playoff contention in the Central Division. They have some pieces that could move that would be helpful to some teams. One of those players is defensemen, Mattias Ekholm. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic thinks an Ekholm deal to the B’s is a good fit.

The Bruins lost Torey Krug to the St. Louis Blues and Zdeno Chara to the Washington Capitals in free agency. Rookie Jeremy Lauzon is out following surgery on a fractured hand. Right now, Matt Grzelcyk, who has dealt with his own injuries this season, rookie Jakub Zboril and newcomer Jarred Tinordi manning the left side.

Tinordi has brought a physical presence that the Bruins were missing of defense, but he is a stop-gap, not the long-term answer, and who knows how the rookies will respond to a late-season playoff push and a postseason. This is where a top-four defenseman comes into play and Ekholm fits that bill.

What would an Ekholm deal look like?

Ekholm has a very good contract. He has a contract that carries a $3.75 million cap hit. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound 30-year-old would be under contract through next season, giving the Bruins this year and next with a solid top-four blueliner.

What would the Bruins have to give up to get Ekholm? Probably a good haul. Ekholm is one of the top players on most team’s trade wish lists and Boston will not be the only suitor for his services.

A first or multiple second rounds picks would have to be part of the deal, as would a prospect. Would the Predators be winning to take Anders Bjork? Unlikely, but what prospects would be made available? Jakub Zboril? Urho Vaakanainen? The Preds would most likely want someone that almost, if not, NHL-ready in the deal. LeBrun throws out the idea about Jake DeBrusk getting mixed in a deal. Ekholm and DeBrusk have nearly the exact same cap-hit this year and next.

Ekholm paired with Charlie McAvoy or even Brandon Carlo when he returns from his upper-body injury he suffered last weekend against the Capitals on the hit from Tom Wilson would solidify the top-four on defense. Don’t get me wrong, a McAvoy/Grzelcyk pairing has been very so far and it would be tough to break them up.

McAvoy, Grzelcyk, Carlo, and Ekholm as a top-four on the blueline that would look to the Bruins for the remainder of the season, in the playoffs, and next season.